Convertible chair



(No Model.)

J. W. KENNA. CONVERTIBLE CHAIR.

Patented Mar. 16; 1886.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

JOSEPH IV. KENNA, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THOMPSON, PERLEY & \VAI'IE, OF BALDWINSVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

CONVERTIBLE CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 338,231, dated March 16, 1886.

Application filed October 20, 1885. Serial No. 150,436. (No modeL) 7 T0 aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosErH W. KENNA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illi-- nois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible Chairs, of which I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My present invention has relation to the improvement of that class of chairs for children commonly known as convertible nursery-chairs, in which the seat of the chair 5 can be raised in such manner as to serve as a high chair, or, by spreading the supporting-v legs this seat can be lowered to such position as to form either a trundling-chair ora rocker.

The object of my invention is to provide improved means for raising and lowering the chair-seat and spreading and contracting the supporting-legs of the chair, so that the chairseat may be readily moved from one position to another without the necessity of removing 5 the child therefrom.

To this end my invention consists in combining with the seat-frame and pivoted legs an adjusting-spindle and a controlling-frame for spreading or contracting the legs as the adj usting-spindle is raised or lowered.

My invention also consists in the combination, with the seat-frameand pivoted legs, of an adjusting screw-spindle connected to the seat-frame, a pivot-bar connected to the end 5 of the screw-spindle, and a screw-threaded controlling-frame for spreading and contracting the supporting-legs of the chair.

My invention further consists in providing the screw spindle of a chair with sockets adapted to receive a catch-pin for locking the spindle in various positions.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a chair embodying my invention, the parts being in such position as 5 to constitute a high-chair. Fig. 2 is a View in central vertical section showing the sustaininglegs spread to such position and the chair-seat so lowered as to form a trundling-chair or carriage. Fig. 3isaviewin side elevation showing 0 the sustaining-legs spread and the chair-seat lowered to their extreme position, so as to form a rocking-chair. Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of the controlling-frame. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the pivot-bar.

A designates the chair-seat, to which there 7 is connected by means of suitable cross-bars, a,

the upper end of the adjusting-spindle B, and to the lower end of this spindle is fixed the bar C, having the expanded angular portions 0, in which are formed holes 0, adapted to receive the pins 0', by which the supportinglegs D are pivotally connected to this bar. The ad j usting-spindle Bis screw-th readed.and passes through a correspondingly-threaded controlling-frame, E, the arms 6 of which are provided with lugs e that enter and move freely in the curved slots d formed in the sides of the supporting-legs D, as seen in Fig. 2.

To the under side of the pivot-bar C is bolted the foot rest frame F, which serves not only to sustain the footrestf, but also gives to the chair a more finished and ornate appearance. The supporting-legs I) rest upon the wheels d", which enable the chair, when the parts are in the relative position shown in Fig. 2, to be used as a trundlingchair or carriage, and the inner edges of the supporting-legs are of curvilinear shape, so that when the chair-seat is in its lowestposition, as seen in Fig. 3, these legs will serve as rockers therefor.

In the upper portion of the controllingframe E, which is suitably recessed for the purpose, I prefer to place the catch-pin G, that enters suitable sockets, 1), formed in the threaded spindle B, and this pin is pressed normally toward the spindle by means of the coil-spring g that encircles it.

From the foregoing construction the operation of the chair will be seen to be as follows: Assuming the parts to be in the relative position shown in Fig. 1, the seat will be in its highest possible position and will form a high chair. If, now, the seat be turned, after the usual manner of office-chairs, the spindle B, passing through the controlling-frame IE, will cause this frame to. spread apart the legs D until they assume the position shown in Fig. 2, and at this time the locking-pin G will enter a hole in the spindle, and will securely retain the parts in a position to form a trundlingchair. If, now,the locking-pin be withdrawn, and the chair-seat be further turned, the screwlOZ spindle will continue to descend through the controlling-frame, causing it to still further spread the supporting-legs until they assume the position shown in Fig. 3, at which time their curved edges will bear upon the floor and constitute rockers for the chair. The locking-pin G not only enables the parts to be securely retained in the various positions shown, but also serves to hold the seat so that it may face either toward the front or side of the chair or in other desired position, according to the location of the sockets 011 the adjusting-spindle.

My present invention affords a ready means by which the chair can be changed from one position to another without any strain or without the necessity of removing the child therefrom.

I do not claim in this application the combination, with the base-frame and the seat-' frame pivotally mounted thereon, of a foot rest frame provided in front and rear with foot-rests, as such combination forms a claim of a separate application filed by me of even date herewith; nor do I claim herein any other matter shown in common by this and such other application.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a convertible chair, the combination, with the seat-frame, and pivoted legs arranged to be spread and contracted, of apivot-bar, an adjusting-spindle, and a controllingframe whereby the pivoted legs can be spread and contracted to lower and raise the seat-frame, substantially as described.

2. In a convertible chair, the combination, with the seat-frame and the pivoted legs, of an adjusting screw-spindle connected to the seat-frame, a pivot-bar connected to the end of the screw-spindle and to the legs, and a screwthreaded controlling frame, substantially as described.

3. In a convertible chair, the combination, with the seat-frame, an adjusting-spindle, and pivoted legs provided with slots, of a controlling-frame having pins entering said slots, and a pivot-frame for said legs, substantially as described.

4. In a convertible chair, the combination of the seat-frame, the adjusting-spindle, the pivoted legs, the pivotbar, the controllingframe, and the foot-rest frame provided with the foot-rests, substantially as described.

5. In a convertible chair, the combination, with the seat-frame, the legs, and a suitable pivot-bar and controlling-frame, of a screwspindle, and a catch-pin for engaging with and locking said screw-spindle, substantially as described.

6. In a chair, the combination of a seat frame, a screw-spindle having sockets therein, suitable supports for said spindle, and a spring catch-pin for engaging with and locking said screw-spindle at different elevations, substantially as described.

JOSEPH W. KENNA.

\Vitnesses:

Gno. P. FISHER, J r., JAMES H. PEIRcE. 

